By Cheryl Sullenger
Kailua Kona, HI – Planned Parenthood’s Kona Health Center in Kailua Kona, Hawaii, will shut down after Monday, November 10, 2014, because it has lost its lease at its current location.
A media release issued by Planned Parenthood of Hawaii yesterday indicated that the closure was only temporary until another location can be secured.
However, commercial property management companies are often reluctant to lease to abortion businesses, so relocation is never assured.
“The fact that Planned Parenthood is shutting down an abortion facility with no place to go shows that it is very likely having trouble finding a new location,” said Troy Newman, President of Operation Rescue. “We pray that no one in Hawaii will lease to them and that this closure will be permanent.”
After Monday, Hawaii will have only two remaining abortion facilities in Maui and Honolulu. Both are operated by Planned Parenthood. The closure will make Hawaii’s Big Island abortion-free.
The national trend of abortion clinic closures continues, with only 571 surgical abortion facilities left in the U.S. once the Kona office ceases operations.
Several clinics, including nine in Texas and one in Oklahoma, are open only pending the resolution of court cases. Seven abortion facilities in New Jersey face closure after their owner, Steven Brigham, lost his medical license last month. Another Planned Parenthood in Cincinnati faces closure for failing to comply with clinic licensing requirements.
“Abortion clinics continue to close and we expect more to shut down before the end of the year,” said Newman. “When abortion clinics close, it gives women an opportunity to explore other options and we have found that clinic closures invariably result in reduced abortion numbers and that means precious lives are saved!”